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Things to do in Bo-Kaap

Our most recommended things to do in Bo-Kaap

Cape Town: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Shared Tour

1. Cape Town: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Shared Tour

Start your full-day tour at the Bo Kaap (Cape Malay Quarters) with its colorful houses, before heading to the Table Mountain cable car station. Take the cable car to the top for unforgettable views. Drive along the Atlantic coast, stopping at Maiden's Cove for photos with the backdrop of the 12 Apostles mountain range. Enjoy the views from Chapman's Peak Drive, one of the world's most scenic routes. Visit Boulders Penguins Colony in Simon Town before reaching the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Enjoy a guided tour at this very popular landmark. Travel to Cape Point, where you can hike to the top of the lighthouse or take the Flying Dutchman funicular to the top.

Cape Town: Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class

2. Cape Town: Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class

First, explore the beautiful Bo-Kapp as you wander its cobblestone streets on a cultural walking tour. Discover some of its oldest historical buildings and learn about the culture and traditions of the local people. Learn about 0the first and oldest mosque in South Africa as well as the cultural museum. Make your way to the spice shop and learn about the variety and health benefits of different spices. Return to the home of your host and begin preparing a traditional Malay meal. Help fold the first course, samosas. Prepare the main meal which is chicken curry and roti flatbread. Make samabal better known as salsa salad. Then, sit down to enjoy your meal, followed by a traditional dessert of koesisters, which are spicy savoury donuts served with cardamon tea. Leave with a full belly and all recipes of what you have prepared.

Cape Town: 3-Hour Malay Cooking Class & Lunch in Bo-Kaap

3. Cape Town: 3-Hour Malay Cooking Class & Lunch in Bo-Kaap

A local food-lover, Faldela Tolker, will be waiting to greet you on the doorstep of her neat, lilac-colored house. She’ll welcome you into her kitchen where a large metal pot simmers on the stove, emitting a spicy aroma. Chef Faldela conducts cooking classes in her home in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town. The food cooked in this predominantly Muslin neighborhood is as piquant as the hot pink and burnt-orange painted houses that rise gently up the lower slopes of Signal Hill, part of Table Mountain. Unique to the Western Cape of South Africa, Cape Malay cuisine fuses African tradition with that of Malaysian and Indonesian slaves, brought over by the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries. A blend of spices — ginger, fennel, star anise, tamarind, and, most importantly, turmeric — gives the food a distinct aromatic quality. Stews, roasts, and sauce-heavy curries are popular in Malay cuisine, as are meat patties, milk, and bread puddings.

Cape Town: 3-Hour Bike Tour

4. Cape Town: 3-Hour Bike Tour

Learn about Cape Town’s heritage on a bike tour from the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront to the bustling inner city, and get up close and personal with its inhabitants along the way. Marvel at the urban landscape, and see sights old and present as you visit the historic fort of the Castle of Good Hope, journey down Adderley Street and go to the former township of Bo-Kaap. Cycle to Company Gardens and St. George’s Mall and see the impressive Green Point Stadium, where the 2010 FIFA World Cup was held. Explore the newly landscaped Green Point eco park and admire the oldest working lighthouse in South Africa.

Cape Town: Half-Day City Tour

5. Cape Town: Half-Day City Tour

Discover the best that Capetown has to offer on this half-day tour. Start your adventure with a stop to the famous Table Mountain for a circular walk. Continue to Signal Hill for incredible views and perfect photos. Continue on to Camps Bay and stop at Maiden’s Cove for more breathtaking views. Head through Clifton, Bantry Bay, Seapoint, the V&A Waterfront, and Cape Town city center. Pass by the Cape Town Convention Centre, drive along Heerengracht Street, passing the Cape Town railway station and stop at the Castle of Good Hope. End your visit with a stop at the Noon Gun museum and Cape Town Diamond Museum.

Cape Town: Half-Day Table Mountain and City Tour

6. Cape Town: Half-Day Table Mountain and City Tour

Ascend to the summit of Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town on a half-day tour that also includes a hotel pick-up and exploration of the city’s most historic neighborhoods. Start with a drive through the city center, passing landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope, built in 1666 by the Dutch East India Company. Admire the baroque grandeur of City Hall and the Grand Parade. Continue along Adderley Street to St. George’s Cathedral, overseen by the Anglican Diocese of Nobel Peace Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Pass Company Gardens and the Malay Quarter (also known as “Bo-Kaap”) in the foothills of Table Mountain to see the historic district of the Cape Malays, descendants of slaves brought to Cape Town from Java, Ceylon and other regions of the Far East in the early 18th century. Next, go to Table Mountain via Kloof Nek, and ascend to the top (weather permitting) by revolving cable car (tickets not included). Look for wild flowers and the famous silver tree, before getting a bird’s-eye view of the city and its beaches. On clear days it’s possible to see Cape Point on one side and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, on the other side. 

Cape Peninsula & Boulders Beach Private Day Tour

7. Cape Peninsula & Boulders Beach Private Day Tour

First, make a quick stop in the heart of Cape Town city center to discover the colorful community known as Bo-kaap. Then, head straight for the coastline. Pass by affluent suburbs with some of the best beaches near the city, stopping for photos at Camps Bay. Proceed on towards Hout Bay seated in between gigantic mountains and the Atlantic.  Enjoy an optional scenic 40-minute round-trip boat ride to Seal Island. Resume your tour via the world-famous Chapman's Peak Drive. Marvel at this road engineering feat as you wind over the edge of the mountains; this scenic drive is not for the faint-hearted. Next, arrive at the Cape of Goodhope Nature Reserve just after midday. Discover the rich plant life of the Cape, early human history, maritime history and if you are lucky you might be able to have a mini safari.  Reach the southwesternmost point of the continent - the Cape of Good Hope - and take a photo with the sign. Hiking is recommended but no swimming because of sheer riptides. Carry on to Cape Point and walk for 20 minutes one way up to a historic lighthouse. You could also take a funicular at your own account if you are not in the mood for walking. Feel free to stop for lunch at the world-class seafood restaurant with a sea view or grab a quick bite in the food shop next door. Next, embark on a journey to Simon's Town for a special date with the endangered African penguins at Boulders Beach. Spend about 45 minutes at the penguin colony before you head back to Cape Town along the coastline. Pass through the quaint towns on this historically known Millionaire's Mile. Hear fun facts about the navy and Just Nuisance - the only dog in the world to have been an able seaman. Finally, discover Kalk Bay and Muizenberg Beach, the surfer's corner before returning to the starting point.

Cape Town: Halfday African Penguin tour

8. Cape Town: Halfday African Penguin tour

See the world-famous beauty of the Mother City as you drive through Cape Town and its surrounding area on this guided tour. Visit historic sites like Bo-Kaap, visit Maiden’s Cove, see African Penguins at Boulder’s Beach, and more. After being picked up, your first destination will be the colorful area of historic Bo-Kaap. These brightly colored houses represent the freedom of the slaves who settled there. Once you’ve taken your full of photos there, the next stop will be the majestic Maiden’s Cove, known as millionaire’s paradise. You’ll understand why: a tidal pool with mountains on one side and the ocean on the other make it a one-in-a-million location.  From there, pass over the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive, one of the top ten scenic drives in the world. 6 miles in length and with about 114 curves, it's the perfect place to stop for photos of the surrounding area, with magnificent ocean views. From there, it's through the charming town of Noordhoek. Known for its excellent coffee, there are also souvenir shops, cafes, and a bakery for those with a sweet tooth.  Finally, you’ll arrive at Boulder’s Beach, likely filled to the brim with its cute inhabitants – African Penguins! 

Cape Town: Guided Sightseeing Tour and Cape of Good Hope

9. Cape Town: Guided Sightseeing Tour and Cape of Good Hope

We will depart from your Hotel at 08h30 and drive through the City Center to Bo-Kaap to learn more about the history of the color houses and take same photos. Our second stop will be Table Mountain where we will take a cable car up to the top of the Mountain to enjoy the beautiful view of the City from the mountain top. Maidan Cove is known for its magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean, Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostol's Mountains, here you can take beautiful photos to create your memories. We will then proceed through Camps Bay and have a stop at Haunt Bay harbor to take an optional 45 minutes boat trip to Seal Island which will cost R100 per person. The tour will then proceed to the most scenic Chapman's Peak Drive, we will stop at the viewing point to take photos and enjoy the scenic views of this beautiful place and then start the most amazing driving experience with breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean. We will have an optional stop for a cup to coffee at Farm Village and then proceed to Simons Town to learn about "Just Nuisance" the only dog that has ever been enlisted in the South African Navy, explore the town and its history of Navy and not forgetting visiting Penguins in Boulders Beach. The tour will proceed to our last destination which is Cape Point/Cape of Good Hope where you have an opportunity to visit Cape Point Lighthouse. You can either take a funicular to the lighthouse or take a steep walking path which is a short distance. Here you will enjoy the nature at its best, from birds, baboons, and many more other animals, the spectacular view of the nature is also amazing. We will also have the opportunity to see wild animals like Baboons, Ostrich, Elands and others that live in Cape of Good Hope National Park. Please Note: Entrance fee to Boulders, Penguins - R170 Per person Entrance fee to Cape of Good Hope National Park - R360 per person Table Mountain Cable Car fee also not Included. You are invited to bring your family, your friends, you colleagues and most importantly, bring your Camera. Lets go have fun.

Cape Town: Robben Island & Table Mountain Guided Tour

10. Cape Town: Robben Island & Table Mountain Guided Tour

We will start this amazing experience with a pick up from your hotel at approximately 08H00 en route to the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island for a 3 to 4-hour experience to see where Nelson Mandela and so many other civilians, politicians were incarcerated during the Apartheid regime. Skip the line of buying the tickets as this tour will have your pre-booked ticket ahead of time. Please take note that Robben Island Museum reserved the right to cancel any given tour at their own discretion. In the case of cancellation, you will be entitled to a full refund or an option to reschedule. Your guide-driver will not escort you to the Island as they have their own guides. You will be on the boat with other people. You will be given a full tour by an ex-prisoner. Soon after returning from your Robben Island Tour experience, we will allow you to grab a sandwich or light lunch at own account at a nearby restaurant. Our next stop before we arrive at Table Mountain, we will allow you a 15 minutes stop for a photo opportunity in the Bo-Kaap ( The Colourful houses). From here, we will drive to the Cable Car station, where you will be given your return ticket by your guide. The guide will escort you for maximum experience. From here, we will drop you off at your accommodation in Cape Town.

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What people are saying about Bo-Kaap

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 623 reviews

Davide our tour guide was brilliant..professional, friendly and knowledgeable..Took us to Table Mountain in the afternoon, knowing that after 2 days of being shut by the wind..the queues would be huge..We visited all the other places listed first and came back later and everything worked smoothly..Fantastic day out with some long lasting memories made..Thoroughly recommend.

This is the best thing happened to me so far here, the tour was full of activities and information. And a special thanks to the best tour guide ever “Ruben”. Thanks Ruben for the very informative tour, u have a looooot of information, always smiling and very helpful. Guys this is really worth every penny! Cheers

A huge thanks to Seraphine, he was so friendly and knowledgeable! My husband and I had a great day with lots of memories made.

Great tour! Joshua was outstanding. Didn’t like the choice of restaurant for lunch.

Faldela was both a great tour guide and a great teacher!